MCQ Detailed View

The silver mirror test is a classical chemical reaction used to detect the presence of aldehyde functional groups. This test involves the use of Tollen’s reagent, which is a solution of silver nitrate (AgNO₃) in aqueous ammonia. In this reaction, the aldehyde group is oxidized to a carboxylic acid, and the silver ions (Ag⁺) in the reagent are reduced to metallic silver (Ag), which deposits on the inner surface of the test tube as a shiny silver mirror.

This test works specifically with aldehydes because they are easily oxidized. Ketones, on the other hand, generally do not react with Tollen’s reagent under normal conditions. The presence of the hydrogen atom directly attached to the carbonyl carbon in aldehydes makes them more reactive toward oxidation than ketones or other functional groups.

The silver mirror is not formed with thio alcohols, amines, or ethers. Thio alcohols contain sulfur and may undergo oxidation reactions, but not in the same way as aldehydes. Amines are basic nitrogen-containing compounds and do not participate in redox reactions with Tollen’s reagent. Ethers are generally unreactive under mild oxidizing conditions and also give a negative result.

This reaction is important in organic qualitative analysis and is commonly included in laboratory testing procedures for identifying aldehydes in mixtures. It helps students understand redox behavior in organic compounds and recognize how functional groups affect chemical reactivity.

The formation of a silver mirror is visible evidence of the presence of an aldehyde group and is used as a reliable confirmation in both academic and industrial chemical analysis.